Planning a trip to Barcelona this Christmas? Or wondering what to do for Christmas in Barcelona? Barcelona is a fantastic destination for a winter vacation and in this post, I’ll share why you should visit Barcelona for Christmas, what to expect from winter weather in Barcelona, what to wear, where to stay and the best things to do in Barcelona at Christmas – as well as everything else you might need to enjoy your Barcelona Christmas vacation!
Why Spend Christmas in Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city to explore at almost any time of year, but Barcelona celebrates Christmas in style. There are lots of festive activities in Barcelona to enjoy, as well as the usual epic things to do in Barcelona all year round.
Christmas markets pop up around the city, and the streets are filled with colourful lights. There are some more unusual Christmas traditions in Barcelona that you can experience too, like building a nativity scene with a pooping man and hitting a wooden log until it poops presents. Seriously, I’m not making this up!
And of course, not only that, but if you visit Barcelona in winter you’ll find fewer crowds, cheaper prices and, more often than not, very pleasant weather!
Whatever you are into, you’ll find it in Barcelona – from sandy beaches to mountain hikes, delicious food, incredible museums, stunning architecture and fabulous nightlife, Barcelona really does have it all. Whether you’re looking for a weekend city break or a week-long Christmas vacation you certainly won’t be disappointed in Barcelona.
There is plenty to discover in the area around Barcelona too, and the region of Catalonia has much more to offer than just the city. You can take day trips from Barcelona to the popular destinations of Montserrat, Girona and Sitges, or take the train to Cava country or any number of smaller Catalan towns and villages.
If you want a white Christmas in Barcelona, then head to the hills for skiing in the resorts near Barcelona. La Molina, La Masella and Port del Comte ski resorts are only 2 hours by car or train from Barcelona and would make fantastic day trips.
Know Before You Go to Barcelona
Before travelling to Barcelona, make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.
⭐ TOP 3 BARCELONA ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:
1: Sagrada Familia Skip the Line Ticket - a must-see in Barcelona!
2: Park Guell Admission Ticket - colourful mosaic terraces and gorgeous views
3: Casa Batlló Entry with Self-Audioguide Tour - stunning Modernist Building & rooftop
🛌 MY FAVOURITE HOTELS IN BARCELONA:
$$: Sercotel Hotel Rosellon - Incredible view of the Sagrada Familia from some rooms and the terrace
$$: H10 Madison 4* Sup - top location with rooftop pool & view of the Gothic Cathedral
$: Chic & Basic Lemon Boutique Hotel - great value hotel near Plaça Catalunya
❗BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS❗
Although Barcelona is a safe city, pickpockets are a problem here, particularly in popular tourist areas and on the metro. Use a theft-proof backpack and consider getting some hidden-pocket clothing to keep your belongings safe.
Find Deals to Book Your Trip
Christmas in Barcelona
While the Christmas decorations in Barcelona usually are up from the end of November through to the start of January, Christmas Eve in Barcelona is more important than Christmas Day – it’s the 24th when most families get together for the big meal.
Gifts on the other hand are traditionally saved for January 6th, when the Three Kings bring all the presents in a fantastical parade the evening of January 5th. The parade begins when the three Kings arrive by boat into Port Vell and move through the streets of Barcelona, throwing sweets to the watching children as they pass by.
There are lots of Christmas activities and festive things to do in Barcelona during the Christmas period, mostly through the whole of December and sometimes at the end of November and the beginning of January too.
Barcelona Christmas Lights
I love walking around and looking at the pretty Christmas lights that appear all around Barcelona at the end of November. They light up the streets with beautiful patterns and colours until they’re taken down after Kings Day on January 6th.
Barcelona’s Christmas lights are officially turned on the Thursday before the last weekend of November and are in place until 6 January. They are illuminated from Sundays to Thursdays from 5.30 pm to 10 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays until 11 pm with special hours for New Year’s Eve and Twelfth Night until 1am.
The main shopping street of Avda. del Portal de l’Angel is also decorated, as is Plaça Catalunya. The large El Corte Ingles store on Plaça Catalunya also has Christmas lights and decorations.
Starting at Plaça Catalunya, the walk up Passeig de Gracia is another wonderful place to see the decorations, wandering up the wide avenue past some of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona such as Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.
Barcelona Christmas Bus Tour
You can book a Christmas Lights tour of Barcelona by bus which will take you to some of Barcelona’s most iconic sites that are beautifully decked out for Christmas, including The Sagrada Família, the Arc del Triomf and Passeig de Gràcia.
There are only certain dates available with an English-speaking guide if you want to listen to the commentary, or just enjoy the lights. The tour begins and ends in Plaça Catalunya. Click here for more information and tickets.
Barcelona Christmas Markets
The Christmas Markets in Barcelona are the best place to find unique souvenirs from Barcelona in the wintertime. There are craft stalls where local artisans sell their wares such as handmade jewellery, leather goods and woodwork, as well as traditional Christmas stalls selling nativity sets, Christmas trees, decorations and caganers (more on that below).
One thing that might surprise you about Barcelona Christmas Markets is that there is no mulled wine to drink! Some Christmas markets have a few stalls selling food, but the main focus is decorations and gifts.
La Fira de Santa Llúcia
Open from the 24th of November to the 23rd of December, from 10am to 9pm every day.
The Fira de Santa Llúcia in the square in front of the Gothic Cathedral is one of the main Christmas markets in Barcelona. There are stalls selling Christmas trees and decorations, with several selling caganers. It is also a nice place to shop for Christmas gifts and souvenirs, with plenty of stalls selling unique, handmade items.
There are no food stalls here, although there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the Gothic Quarter where you can go for something to eat and drink.
La Fira de la Sagrada Familia
Open from the 25th of November until the 23rd of December, from 10am to 9pm, or until 10pm on weekends and holidays.
As the name suggests, the Sagrada Familia Christmas Market is held around the Plaça de la Sagrada Familia. It is a great place to come for Christmas trees and decorations, and the smell of pine and eucalyptus fills the air.
These stalls are lined up all along the street around the square, and there are some stalls selling gifts which are mostly found in the centre of the square.
There are a few food stalls too, mainly selling sweet treats like churros (long donuts) and hot chocolate, pancakes and candy floss.
El Mercat de Nadal al Port del Moll de la Fusta
Open from the 5th of December until the closing day on 6th of January, from 11am to 11pm.
This is the biggest Christmas Market in Barcelona, and as well as stalls selling decorations and gifts there are more food stands here as well as a beer stall – although I still haven’t found any mulled wine!
There are also fairground rides like a carousel and Ferris wheel, live music performances and lots of kids activities including a 400m2 synthetic, eco-friendly ice-rink.
La Fira de Reis Gran Vía
Open from the 15th of December until 6th of January, from 10am to 10pm during the week and until midnight on weekends and holidays
The Three Kings Fair will be open on the pavements of Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, between the streets of Muntaner and Rocafort, where you can find a variety of stalls selling Christmas gifts, toys and crafts, as well as some churro donut stands.
Responsible Consumption and Social and Solidarity Economy Fair in Plaça de Catalunya
Open from 15th to 29th December (closed on Christmas Day & Boxing Day), from 11 am 8.30 pm, closing at 4pm on Christmas Eve
If you’re looking for sustainable Christmas gifts or some ideas on how to be more sustainable at Christmas and throughout the year, then this is the fair for you. There will be 50 stalls on the outer circle of Plaça de Catalunya selling sustainable craft products, clothing and textiles, books, cosmetics, games and more.
Barcelona Nativity Scenes
Religion still plays a major part in the Christmas festivities, and you can find intricate nativity scenes for sale at all of the Christmas markets. The care and detail that go into the nativities are remarkable, including things like windmills with moving sails, running water features and a range of people and animals to decorate the scene.
Plaça Sant Jaume
The largest nativity is usually at Plaça Sant Jaume in the Gothic Quarter, with decorations set up in the middle of the square. It can get busy in the evenings and weekends.
Museu Frederic Marès
The Museu Frederic Marès next to the cathedral always has a traditional nativity scene, which is free to view during the opening hours.
Bizarre Catalan Christmas Traditions in Barcelona
One of the more bizarre and fun parts of Christmas in Barcelona is experiencing the Catalan obsession with poo. Yes poo. Definitely a bit odd, but great fun – and a definite conversation starter when you bring a souvenir back home!
Caganers – Pooping People
In each nativity scene where Mary and Joseph are tending to the baby Jesus, somewhere hidden away will be a model of someone with their trousers around their ankles and pooping. While they are never in view of Jesus (that would be disrespectful), the caganer pooping man is always there somewhere – can you spot him in the Nativity Scene below?
Caganers are traditionally dressed in the Catalan outfit of white trousers and shirt with a red belt and cap, but these days you can find caganers of all shapes and sizes – including famous football players, pop stars and movie characters. Your life will never be the same once you’ve seen Dracula, Madonna and Superman doing their business next to each other, I assure you!
Caga Tió – Uncle Crapper
Even more bizarre is the pooping log known as Caga Tió. Made from a chunk of a tree log, with the addition of a smiling face and jaunty cap, Caga Tió is filled with sweets and then beaten by children with sticks until he poops out his sweet presents. Merry Pooping Christmas to you too!
Other Christmas Events in Barcelona
Christmas Festival in Plaça Catalunya
Open from 16th to 29th December, from 11 am to 2 pm and from 4.30 pm to 9 pm
The Christmas Festival is an extensive programme of street art, music, installations and digital arts in Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Universitat. The mornings are dedicated to family activities, with the afternoons focussing on music and street arts; and at night it will be time for large format activities.
Els Llums de Sant Pau
Els Llums de Sant Pau (Sant Pau Lights) transform the Hospital de Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site into a spectacular winter wonderland full of Christmas lights. There are audiovisual installations as well as the more usual festive lights, and the chance to skate on an ice rink amid the Art Nouveau architecture. Check the website for details and entry tickets.
Casa Batlló Christmas Light Show
Every evening, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm Casa Batlló has a visual show of light and music on its façade during the Christmas and winter seasons from November 17 to January 7
Every 30 minutes, a 3-minute light and music show brings this iconic Barcelona façade to life which is free for everyone to enjoy. You can also buy tickets to A Winter Night visit to go inside Casa Batlló to see one of Gaudí’s most famous works up close, with special light and music projections.
What to Eat in Barcelona at Christmas
In Barcelona, as in many parts of Spain, Christmas is celebrated with a variety of traditional foods. As well as the usual delicious food in Barcelona some popular dishes and treats you will find during the Christmas season include:
Escudella i Carn d’Olla
This is a traditional Catalan Christmas dish, which is a broth containing a variety of meats and vegetables. It’s often served with large pasta shapes called “galets” and is a festive staple in many households. You can either eat it all at once or have the meat and vegetables as one dish, and the broth with the pasta (known as sopa de galets) separately.
Rostit de Nadal
The Christmas Roast is another typical Catalan dish, which is usually a roast chicken or duck, stuffed with dried fruits such as prunes, raisins, apricots and pine nuts.
Seafood
In Barcelona, it’s also common to enjoy seafood during Christmas. Prawns, lobster, and other seafood dishes like bacalao (salted cod) and suquet de peix (fish stew) may be featured in festive meals.
Canelons
In Catalonia, it’s a tradition to serve canelons (cannelloni) on December 26th, known as Saint Stephen’s Day. These pasta tubes are stuffed with the leftover meat from the previous day’s escudella or roast, and served baked in a bechamel sauce.
Polvorones and Mantecados
These are crumbly and sweet shortbread-like cookies that are often enjoyed during the Christmas season. They come in various flavours and can be found in bakeries and supermarkets.
Turrones
Turron is a nougat confection made with almonds and honey, and you’ll find a variety of turrones (different types of nougat) and marzipan during the holiday season. These sweets are often enjoyed after meals or as snacks.
Neules
These rolled wafer biscuits are another sweet treat to enjoy after dinner. It’s common to have them with a glass of cava, on their own, or even with some Crema Catalana dessert.
Spanish Wines and Cava
Spain is famous for its wines, and during Christmas, many people enjoy a glass of wine or Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) to accompany their festive meals.
Tortell de Reis
While this is more associated with the celebration of Epiphany (January 6th), the Tortell de Reis, a sweet, ring-shaped bread adorned with candied fruits and sometimes filled with cream or other sweet fillings, is often enjoyed throughout the holiday season.
Where to Have Christmas Dinner in Barcelona
Christmas Eve is the traditional big dinner day in Spain, so if you’re eating out on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Barcelona you’ll need to book a table. That way you can be sure your chosen restaurant will be open and you won’t be disappointed!
The Fork is a good place to check if a restaurant is open but most places will require booking by phone or email. Hotels are a good bet to be open and often have more information on their websites about opening times and available menus.
If you plan to prepare your own Christmas meal in your accommodation, most supermarkets will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and will have shorter opening hours on the 24th. Some smaller corner shops and convenience stores will be open for basic supplies.
I haven’t eaten Christmas Dinner at a restaurant in Barcelona as I’m usually at home or with friends – I’ve had recommendations for these places and will add more as I confirm the restaurants are open for Christmas Day.
Flaherty’s Irish Pub
Popular with expats, if you want a traditional Irish/British Christmas Dinner in Barcelona, this is the place to come.
The 3-course menu includes a choice of starter, a main course of roast turkey with all the trimmings, and Christmas Pudding or Guinness chocolate cake for dessert. You’ll also get a glass of cava and a pig in a blanket to kick off your meal.
€45 per person excluding drinks. There are 2 sittings available on 25th December, one from 1pm to 3.30pm, and the second from 4pm to 7pm. Bookings are essential by email or whatsapp. Check the menu here.
New Year in Barcelona
New Year’s Eve in Barcelona is usually a big party night, with the main city firework display held at Avinguda Maria Cristina by Placa d’Espanya. The event is free to attend, but you usually get better views from balconies and terraces in that part of town.
Pretty much any apartment or hotel with a view of the city will give you a great experience of the fireworks on New Year’s Eve – this year I was on a terrace close to La Sagrada Familia, and we could watch displays right across Barcelona.
One thing you must do in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve is to eat grapes. This Spanish tradition involves listening for the clock chimes at midnight and eating a grape for every chime.
It is more difficult than it sounds – make sure you have grapes without seeds as that can cause serious problems! You can buy a pack of 12 grapes ready for you to eat if you like which is easier to eat, although it is definitely a waste of plastic!
What to do in Barcelona at Christmas Time
Once you’ve had your fill of the festivities there are plenty of non-Christmassy things to do in Barcelona to keep you busy, check out this article about Barcelona in winter for some ideas for activities.
Opening times of attractions vary during the holiday period so check in advance to make sure they are open. You’ll also need to be aware of the shorter daylight hours which can impact your sightseeing; the sun rises in Barcelona between 8am and 8.20am in December, and sets between 5.20pm and 5.30pm.
Barcelona Weather at Christmas
The weather in Barcelona during the winter and around Christmas time is generally very pleasant. The low altitude and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea mean that Barcelona has much milder temperatures than other Spanish cities such as Madrid or Granada.
While it does rain occasionally (an average of 3 or 4 days each month for December), blue skies are the norm, and nothing cheers me up more than a crisp, sunny winter morning – especially on Christmas Day! If it does rain, there are still plenty of things to do in Barcelona on a rainy day so don’t worry too much.
Barcelona winter temperatures average 12-14°C during the day, sometimes warmer, then drop to around 6°C at night. Once the sun goes down you will notice the temperature drops quickly.
Snow in Barcelona is very rare, so don’t expect a White Christmas in Barcelona. If you plan to visit more of Catalonia or head up to the mountains of Andorra for some skiing you can expect snow there, but not often in the city itself.
What to Wear in Barcelona in Winter
Layered Clothing: While the weather in Barcelona is usually pretty mild, you will still be glad for layers – especially once the sun goes down. Start with a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt or top as a base layer, and then add a sweater or cardigan for warmth. You can easily remove layers if the day warms up.
Warm Jacket or Coat: Bring a jacket or coat that provides some protection against wind and rain. A waterproof or water-resistant jacket with a hood is ideal.
Umbrella: A compact, travel-sized umbrella can be very useful due to the chance of rain in December.
Scarf and Accessories: A scarf can keep you warm on cooler days and add a stylish touch to your outfit. I love my travel scarf with a hidden pocket which keeps my valuables safe from pickpockets too! I always have a hat and gloves for cooler evenings as well, as it can get chilly wandering around Christmas markets in the evenings.
Jeans or Trousers: During the day women could get away with warm tights and skirts, but on cooler days opt for jeans or comfortable trousers to keep you warm. Dark-coloured jeans can be dressed up for evenings out.
Comfortable Shoes: Comfortable walking shoes are a must as you’ll likely be exploring the city on foot. Waterproof or water-resistant shoes are a good choice due to the possibility of rain. Simple black boots are perfect for an evening out.
Unless you plan on going out to very fancy places, high-heeled shoes aren’t necessary, a simple pair of boots (with a heel or flat) will be enough for most restaurants and bars. In general, Barcelona is quite a casual city, at least in my experience!
If you plan on spending New Year’s Eve in Barcelona then check the dress code for where you are planning to go, in case you need something more elegant.
Slippers or Warm Socks: It might seem like an odd inclusion to your Barcelona packing list, but I would also suggest bringing some slippers or warm socks for when you are back at your accommodation. Because it gets so hot in the summer in Barcelona, many hotels and apartments don’t have carpet, and during the winter the tiles are cold to walk on!
As for style, pretty much anything goes in Barcelona, although locals tend to prefer darker, muted colours. If you’re wondering what else to pack for Barcelona, check out my full Barcelona packing list.
Other Barcelona Travel Essentials
Don’t forget essential travel essentials like a theft-proof backpack for keeping your belongings safe, a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and reduce plastic waste, a portable power bank and a universal adapter to charge your electronic devices so you don’t run out of battery and miss out on photo opportunities!
Before you travel to Spain, check if your phone contract includes roaming in Spain, and if you have any data allowance to use while you are travelling. To avoid excess charges for roaming data use, an eSIM is a cheap and useful way to make sure you stay connected, as long as your phone is eSIM compatible.
Airalo is super easy to set up and sends you email notifications when your eSIM is about to expire so you can top up easily if needed. Their eSIMs for Spain start from $4.50 for 1GB of data which lasts for 7 days.
Remember to bring your passport, travel insurance, identification, and any other necessary documents. Additionally, have a copy of your hotel reservations, emergency contact numbers, and a map or guidebook for navigating the city.
Final Thoughts on Spending Christmas in Barcelona
I hope this has convinced you to travel to Barcelona this Christmas, and while it might not be beach weather there are still plenty of awesome things to do here. Do you have more suggestions for how to spend Christmas in Barcelona? I’d love to hear them, this is just a taste of all the Christmas Barcelona activities you could do!
